Table of Contents
Foreword 13
Introduction 16
Chapter 1 Is Biodiversity Loss a Serious Problem?
Chapter Preface 21
Yes: Biodiversity Loss Is a Serious Problem
Global Biodiversity Losses Are Approaching Tipping Points of No Return Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 24
Species Loss Is a Silent Crisis for the Planet David Suzuki 36
Climate Change Is Acclerating Biodiversity Loss Anup Shah 39
Biodiversity Loss Is a Threat to Human Food Security Paul Virgo 48
No: Biodiversity Loss Is Not a Serious Problem
Rainforest Regrowth May Reduce the Loss of Biodiversity in the Tropics Environment News Service 52
Animal and Plant Extinction Rates May Be Overestimated Brian Handwerk 57
Environmentalists' Claims About Species' Loss Are Radically Misleading James D. Agresti 61
Chapter 2 Which Plant and Animal Species Are Threatened with Extinction?
Chapter Preface 65
Half of Earth's Species Could Be Extinct by the End of the Century in a Sixth Mass Extinction Event The Independent 68
Thousands of Plant and Animal Extinctions Are Happening Faster than New Species Can Evolve Juliette Jowit 71
Many Important Keystone and Predator Species Are at Risk Douglas H. Chadwick 76
Climate Change Is Threatening Wild Animal Species Around the World WWF 84
Climate Change and Other Human-Induced Impacts May Make a Mass Extinction of Ocean Species Inevitable Environment News Service 87
Twenty Percent of Earth's Known Plant Species Are Threatened by Human Activities Zachary Shahan 91
The Spread of High-Yield Crops Is Depleting Agricultural Biodiversity Fahim Nawaz 95
Chapter 3 Are Human Food Production Methods a Threat to Earth's Biodiversity?
Chapter Preface 100
Yes: Human Food Production Methods Are a Threat to the Earth's Biodiversity
Industrial Agriculture Is a Major Threat to Biodiversity Sustainable Table 103
Concentrated Animal Agriculture Is the Biggest Threat to the Environment and Biodiversity Human Society International 112
Slash and Burn Agriculture Results in Tropical Habitat and Biodiversity Loss Colin Stief 120
Genetically Modified Crops Contribute to Biodiversity Loss Deniza Gertsberg 123
Commercial Fishing Is a Threat to Marine Biodiversity Nick Nuttall 127
No: Human Food Production Methods Are Not a Threat to the Earth's Biodiversity
Genetically Engineered Crops Have Had a Positive Impact on Biodiversity Janet E. Carpenter 130
Agricultural Productivity Does Not Have to Result in Biodiversity Loss Jonathan Latham Allison Wilson 138
Small, Sustainable Farms Can Help Protect Biodiversity in Tropical Forests ScienceDaily 143
Chapter 4 How Can Earth's Biodiversity Be Protected?
Chapter Preface 148
Creating Protected Area Habitats Is a Critical Strategy for Conserving Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity 151
Setting Aside Protected Habitats Will Not Stop Biodiversity Loss Tom Zeller 154
Sustainable Agriculture Is the Key to Preserving Biodiversity Annik Dollacker Juan Gonzalez-Valero 158
The World Must Move Faster to Conserve Tropical Rainforests The Economist 165
Strong Measures Must Be Taken Soon to Prevent Overfishing in Our Oceans Save Our Seas Foundation 169
Addressing Biodiversity Loss Will Require More Political Will and Resources Elizabeth Pennisi 173
Individuals Can Also Take Steps to Protect Biodiversity Renee Cho 176
Organizations to Contact 181
Bibliography 189
Index 195
